DE102019105572A1 - DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CARRYING OUT A TEST DIAGNOSIS - Google Patents

Abstract

There is provided a meter tube diagnostic method and apparatus. The apparatus includes: a sensor configured to send an electrical signal to a first part of a measuring tube and to receive the transmitted signal at a second part of the measuring tube, and a controller configured to detect a difference between the transmitted one determine electrical signal and the received signal and to diagnose a condition of the measuring tube based on the determined difference.

Description

INTRODUCTION

Devices and methods in accordance with exemplary embodiments relate to the diagnosis of meter tubes. In particular, apparatus and methods in accordance with exemplary embodiments relate to indirectly detecting a defect in a meter tube.

SUMMARY

One or more exemplary embodiments provide a method and apparatus that detects the condition or presence of a defect in a measuring tube. In particular, one or more exemplary embodiments provide a method and apparatus that transmit an electronic signal through a first portion of a conductive measuring tube and determine a defect in the measuring tube by receiving and analyzing the transmitted signal at a second portion of the measuring tube.

According to one aspect of another exemplary embodiment, a meter tube diagnostic device is provided. The apparatus includes a metering tube comprising a conductive material, a sensor configured to send an electrical signal to a first portion of the metering tube and to receive the transmitted signal at a second portion of the metering tube, and a controller that configures is to determine a difference between the transmitted electrical signal and the received signal and to diagnose a condition of the measuring tube based on the determined difference.

The device may also include an energy absorber disposed between a front bumper cover and a front bumper reinforcement. The measuring tube may be disposed between the energy absorber and the front bumper reinforcement.

The sensor may include a first sensor connected to the first part of the measuring tube and a second sensor connected to the second part of the measuring tube.

The first sensor may include a first conductive protrusion that contacts the first part of the measuring tube, and the second sensor may include a second conductive protrusion that contacts the second part of the measuring tube.

The first part of the measuring tube may be a first end of the measuring tube, and the second part of the measuring tube may be a second end of the measuring tube.

The sensor may include a first conductive protrusion contacting the first part of the measuring tube and a second conductive protrusion contacting the second part of the measuring tube.

The measuring tube may further include a conductive silicone material or a conductive ink printed silicone tube. The electrical signal may include a diagnostic pulse, a half sine or square wave generated at a particular interval, or a series of square pulses.

The controller may be configured to determine a difference in at least one of a voltage, a current, and a frequency of the transmitted electrical signal and the received signal.

The sensor may be configured to sense a pressure change in the meter tube, and the controller may be configured to control the deployment of an air bag based on a pressure change sensed by the sensor.

In one aspect of an exemplary embodiment, a measuring tube diagnostic method is provided. The method includes transmitting an electrical signal to a first portion of a measuring tube that includes a conductive material, receiving the transmitted electrical signal at a second portion of the measuring tube, determining differences between the transmitted electrical signal and the received signal, and diagnosing a state of the measuring tube based on the determined differences.

The transmission of the electrical signal at the first part of the measuring tube may include transmitting the electrical signal through a first sensor connected to the first part of the measuring tube.

Receiving the transmitted electrical signal at the second part of the measuring tube may include receiving the transmitted electrical signal by a second sensor connected to the second part of the measuring tube.

The first part of the measuring tube may be a first end of the measuring tube, and the second part of the measuring tube may be a second end of the measuring tube.

The electrical signal may be a diagnostic pulse, a half sine or square wave shaped in a certain interval or a series of square pulses.

The determination differences between the transmitted electrical signal and the received signal may include determining a difference in at least one of a voltage, a current, and a frequency of the transmitted electrical signal and the received signal.

Diagnosing the condition of the measuring tube based on the determined differences involves diagnosing a defect in the measuring tube based on the determined difference.

Diagnosing the defect in the measuring tube based on the determined difference may include diagnosing a scope of the defect.

The defect may be at least one of several of a puncture in the measuring tube, a hole in the measuring tube, a severed measuring tube, a crack in the measuring tube and a deterioration of the wall of the measuring tube.

According to one aspect of another exemplary embodiment, a meter tube diagnostic device is provided. The apparatus includes: a sensor configured to send an electrical signal to a first part of a measuring tube and to receive the transmitted signal at a second part of the measuring tube, and a controller configured to detect a difference between the transmitted one determine electrical signal and the received signal and to diagnose a condition of the measuring tube based on the determined difference.

Other purposes, advantages and novel features of the embodiments will become apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiments and the accompanying drawings.

list of figures

• 1 FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a measuring tube diagnostic device according to an exemplary embodiment; FIG.
• 2 FIG. 12 is a flowchart for a meter tube diagnostic method according to an exemplary embodiment; FIG.
• The 3A and 3B 12 are illustrations of a meter tube and diagnostic sensors according to one aspect of an exemplary embodiment; and
• The 4A and 4B 12 show illustrations of an exemplary meter tube configuration in accordance with an aspect of an exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

A measuring tube diagnostic apparatus and method will now be described in detail with reference to FIGS 1 - 4B of the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like elements.

The following disclosure enables those skilled in the art to practice the inventive idea. However, the embodiments disclosed herein are exemplary only and do not limit the inventive concept to the embodiments described herein. Moreover, descriptions of features or aspects of each embodiment for aspects of other embodiments should typically be considered available.

It will also be understood that, where indicated herein, that a first element having a second element is "connected to," "formed on," or "applied," the first element directly connected to, directly formed on, or directly on second element may be arranged that intermediate elements between the first element and the second element may be present, unless it is stated that a first element "directly" connected to the second element, attached thereto, formed thereon or arranged on this In addition, when a first element is configured to "send" or "receive" information from a second element, the first element may send or receive information directly to or from the second element Send or received from the bus that send or receive information over a network, or send the information about intermediate elements or receive, unless the first item is displayed to send or receive information "directly" to or from the second item.

Throughout the disclosure, one or more of the disclosed elements may be combined into a single device or combined into one or more devices. In addition, individual elements may be provided on separate devices.

In vehicles, various occupant protection systems are often used. Examples of occupant protection systems include seatbelts, airbags, etc. which occupy a passenger Protect vehicle. In addition, airbags may be provided at one or more locations within a vehicle. Vehicles may also include front and rear bumper reinforcements. The front and rear bumper reinforcements of a vehicle are attached to a chassis of the vehicle. The front and rear bumper reinforcements can be covered from the outside by bumper covers, which can also be referred to as screens. Between a bumper reinforcement and a bumper cover, an energy absorbing material, such as an energy absorbing foam, may be disposed.

The vehicle bumpers are generally the first point of contact in the event of a collision. Thus, sensors are placed in the bumper area to detect the occurrence of a collision or impact on the bumper. For example, sensors and / or a measuring tube may be incorporated in energy absorbing foam and / or between a bumper reinforcement and a bumper cover. The sensors and / or the measuring tube detect the collision or impact and this detection can be used to trigger vehicle components such as an inside airbag or an outside pedestrian airbag. For proper operation of sensors and / or a meter tube to properly trip certain vehicle components, a meter tube diagnostic must be performed to ensure that there are no defects in the meter tube and / or in the meter tube sensors.

1 shows a block diagram of a measuring tube diagnostic device 100 according to an exemplary embodiment. As in 1 shown, includes the measuring tube diagnostic device 100 according to an exemplary embodiment, a controller 101 , a power supply 102 , a store 103 , an issue 104 , a measuring tube sensor 105 , a user input 106 , a protection system actuator 107 , a communication device 108 and a measuring tube 109 , However, the meter tube diagnostic device is 100 is not limited to the aforementioned configuration and may be configured to include additional elements and / or omit one or more of the foregoing elements. The measuring tube diagnostic device 100 may be implemented as part of a vehicle, as a stand-alone component, as a hybrid between a vehicle and a non-vehicle device, or another computing device.

The control 101 controls the overall operation and function of the meter tube diagnostic device 100 , The control 101 can one or more of a memory 103 , an issue 104 , a measuring tube sensor 105 , a user input 106 , a protection system actuator 107 , a communication device 108 and a measuring tube 109 the measuring tube diagnostic device 100 control. The control 101 may include one or more of a processor, a microprocessor, a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processor, application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), state machines, circuitry, and a combination of hardware, software, and firmware Components.

The control 101 is configured to receive information from one or more of the memory 103 , the edition 104 , the measuring tube sensor 105 , the user input 106 , the protection system actuator 107 , the communication device 108 and the measuring tube 109 the measuring tube diagnostic device 100 to send and / or receive. The information can be sent and received over a bus or a network, or directly from one or more of the memories 103 , the edition 104 , the user input 106 , the protection system actuator 107 and the communication device 108 the measuring tube diagnostic device 100 be read or written in this. Examples of suitable network connections include a controller area network (CAN), a media-oriented system transfer (MOST), a local area network (LIN), a local area network (LAN), wireless networks such as Bluetooth and 802.11, and other suitable connections such as. B. Ethernet.

The power supply 102 supplies power to one or more of the controllers 101 , the memory 103 , the output 104 , the measuring tube sensor 105 , the user input 106 , the protection system actuator 107 and the communication device 108 the measuring tube diagnostic device 100 , The power supply 102 may include one or more of a battery, a socket, a capacitor, a solar cell, a generator, a wind energy device, an alternator, etc.

The memory 103 is configured to store information and retrieve information received from the meter tube diagnostic device 100 be used. The memory 103 can through the control 101 to be controlled by the protection system actuator 107 or the measuring tube sensor 105 store and retrieve received information. For example, the memory can store information from the sensor 105 be provided, such as pressure information of the measuring tube, status information of the measuring tube or electrical signal information (eg, transmitted electrical signals and / or received electrical signals). electrical Signal information may include a voltage, a current, and / or a frequency of the transmitted electrical signal and the received signal. The status information of the measuring tube may be information indicating a puncture in the measuring tube, a hole in the measuring tube, a crack in the measuring tube, a severed measuring tube, a deterioration of the wall of the measuring tube, a defect in the measuring tube or an extent of the defect. In another example, the memory may store information provided by the protection system actuator 107 be provided, such as state information of the actuator. The memory 103 may also include the computer-executable instructions configured to be executed by a processor to perform the functions of the meter tube diagnostic device 100 perform.

The memory 103 may include one or more of floppy disks, optical disks, Compact Disc Read Only Memories (CD-ROMs), magneto-optical disks, Read Only Memories (ROMs), Random Access Memories (RAM), EPROMs (erasable programmable read only memory), Include EEPROMs (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), magnetic or optical cards, flash memory, cache memory, and other types of media / machine-readable media suitable for storing machine-executable instructions.

The exit 104 outputs information in one or more forms, including: visual, audible, and / or haptic. The exit 104 can over the control 101 be controlled to the user of the measuring tube diagnostic device 100 To provide expenditures. The exit 104 may include one or more of a speaker, audio, a display, a center display, a head-up display, a windshield display, a haptic feedback device, a vibration device, a tactile feedback device, a tap feedback device, a holographic display, an instrument light , an instrument display, a directional headlight and so on.

The exit 104 may issue notifications including one or more of an audible notification, a luminous notification and a notification notification, and so on. The notification may include information about the condition of the meter tube or a failure of the protection system caused by a condition of the meter tube.

The measuring tube sensor 105 can be configured to send an electronic signal to a first part of the measuring tube 109 output or generate and the output electronic signal to a second part of the measuring tube 109 to recieve. The measuring tube sensor 105 may include a plurality of separate sensors, wherein each of the plurality of sensors is configured to perform the output of the electronic signal and / or the receiving of the output electronic signal. The measuring tube sensor 105 can output and receive the electronic signal at conductive protrusions extending from the measuring tube 109 or of conductive plates on the measuring tube 109 extend. The electronic signal output or through the sensor 105 may generate a diagnostic pulse, a half sine or square wave waveform generated at a particular interval, or a series of square pulses that generate a digital signal.

The user input 106 is configured to provide information and instructions to the meter tube diagnostic device 100 provided. The user input 106 can be used to control user input etc 101 provide. The user input 106 may include one or more of a touch screen, a keyboard, a soft keyboard, a button, a motion detector, a voice input detector, a microphone, a camera, a trackpad, a mouse, a touchpad, and so on. The user input 106 may be configured to receive a user input and thus the notification by the output 104 to confirm or reject. The user input 106 can also be configured to receive a user input to the meter tube diagnostic device 100 to activate or deactivate. For example, the setting for turning the protection system on and off can be done by an operator through the user input 106 to get voted.

The protection system actuator 107 may include one or more of a plurality of actuators configured to actuate protection system components. For example, the protection system actuator 107 initiate or be one or more forms between an airbag inflator, a seatbelt pretensioner, an exterior pedestrian protection airbag inflator, an interior airbag inflator, a hood lift actuator, a door latch / unlock mechanism, and so on. The protection system actuator 107 An actuator may also be used to change (eg, increase) the pressure within the meter tube 109 include. The actuator for changing (eg increasing) the pressure in the measuring tube 109 For example, it may be a linear actuator or a piezoelectric actuator.

A piezoelectric actuator may be embedded in the walls of the measuring tube and may be a ceramic tube actuator, a wire (eg, nitinol wire) actuator, or other suitable type of tube actuator. A linear actuator may extend into one side of the meter tube causing a pressure increase within the meter tube, or it may be located in the recess in the rear of the energy absorber.

The communication device 108 may be from the measuring tube diagnostic device 100 can be used to communicate with various types of external devices according to various communication methods. The communication device 108 may be used to send / receive various information, such as information about the condition of the meter tube and / or activation information of the protection system to / from the controller 101 the measuring tube diagnostic device 100 ,

The communication device 108 may include various communication modules, such as one or more radio reception modules, a short-range communication (NFC) module, a GPS module, and a wireless communication module. The broadcast receiving module may include a terrestrial broadcast receiving module including an antenna for receiving a terrestrial broadcast signal, a demodulator, and an equalizer, and so on. The NFC module is a module that communicates with an external device located at a nearby distance according to an NFC method. The GPS receiver is a module that receives a GPS signal from a GPS satellite and detects a current location. The wired communication module may be a module that receives information over a wired network, such as a local area network, a controller area network (CAN), or an external network. The wireless communication module is a module that is connected to an external network via a wireless communication protocol, such as an IEEE 802.11 protocol, WiMAX, WI-Fi, or IEEE communication protocol, and that communicates with the external network. The wireless communication module may further include a mobile communication module accessing a mobile communication network and communicating according to various mobile communication standards, such as 3 generation ( 3G ) 3 , Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), Long Term Development (LTE), Bluetooth, EVDO, CDMA, GPRS, EDGE or Zigbee.

The measuring tube 109 may include a conductive material, such as conductive silicon, and may also be flexible. According to various examples, the meter tube may be a conductive tube or a conductive ink printed silicone tube. The measuring tube 109 The measuring tube or the measuring tube sensor 105 may include one or more vents so that the pressure in the measuring tube can approach or reach ambient pressure. The measuring tube 109 may include a first conductive protrusion that contacts the first part of the measuring tube and a second conductive protrusion that contacts the second part of the measuring tube.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the controller may 101 the measuring tube diagnostic device 100 be configured to determine a difference between the transmitted electrical signal and the received signal and to diagnose a condition of the measuring tube based on the determined difference.

The control 101 may be a diagnostic module of a vehicle. The control 101 may include a diagnostic module that determines if there is a defect on the measuring tube 109 or a condition of the measuring tube 109 based on an electrical signal. For example, the controller 101 determine a degree of the defect or be a type of defect as one of buckling in the measuring tube, a hole in the measuring tube, a severed measuring tube, a crack in the measuring tube and a deterioration of the wall of the measuring tube. In another example, a total failure can be detected by a total loss of the signal / resistance of the signal and a partial failure or crack by a change in the resistance of the signal.

The control 101 the measuring tube diagnostic device 100 For example, the controller may be configured to determine a difference in at least one of a voltage, a current, and a frequency of the transmitted electrical signal and the received signal. In addition, the controller 101 the measuring tube diagnostic device 100 configured to control the deployment of an airbag based on a pressure change sensed by the sensor.

2 FIG. 12 is a flowchart for a meter tube diagnostic method according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. The procedure of 2 can through the measuring tube diagnostic device 100 or may be encoded into a computer-readable medium as instructions executable by a computer to perform the method.

With reference to 2 will be at surgery S210 sent or transmitted on a first part of a measuring tube, an electrical signal. In particular, a sensor becomes an electrical one Sent signal from a first end of a flexible conductive silicon measuring tube via a first conductive projection at the first end of the measuring tube. The transmitted electrical signal may be a diagnostic pulse.

In operation 220 the transmitted electrical signal is received by a sensor at a second part of the measuring tube. In particular, the transmitted electrical signal can be received via a second conductive projection at the second end of the measuring tube.

The received signal is then in operation 230 analyzed. In particular, differences between the transmitted electrical signal and the received signal are determined by comparing the two signals or information about the two signals. Based on the differences found will be in operation S240 the condition of the measuring tube is diagnosed.

The 3A and 3B 12 show illustrations of a measuring tube and a diagnostic sensor according to an aspect of an exemplary embodiment.

With reference to 3A can be a measuring tube 300 be made of a conductive silicone material. A first sensor 302 can be placed or configured to send an electrical signal at a first end 301 of the measuring tube 300 to transmit or receive. A second sensor 304 can be placed or configured to send an electrical signal at a second end 303 of the measuring tube 300 to transmit or receive. This in 3A The illustrated example is not limiting and a sensor may be configured to provide an electrical signal at a first end 301 or a second end 303 of the measuring tube 300 to transmit or receive.

With reference to 3B shows a representation 310 an exemplary sensor 312 at one end of the measuring tube 300 is arranged. As in 3B shown, the projection extends 311 from the measuring tube 300 , The lead 311 is configured to be one from the sensor 312 to receive / transmit transmitted electrical signal.

The 4A and 4B 12 show illustrations of an exemplary meter tube configuration in accordance with an aspect of an exemplary embodiment. With reference to 4A is a front view of an exemplary vehicle 400 with a measuring tube of a protection system 416 shown. The vehicle includes a front bumper skirt 404 , an upper grille 408 and a lower grille 412 , The upper grille 408 and / or the lower grille 412 can be omitted. The measuring tube of the protection system 416 is located behind the front bumper skirt 404 and can be between the upper grille 408 and the lower grille 412 of the vehicle 400 are located

With reference to 4B is an exemplary exploded view of a measuring tube of a protection system 416 shown. The energy absorber 418 has a front 442 and a back 443 on. The front 442 is forward facing and can attach to (the inner surface) of the front bumper skirt 404 to be assembled. The backside 443 is directed outward and can be attached to the front bumper reinforcement 424 to be assembled.

The measuring tube 420 Can in a recess on the back 243 of the energy absorber 418 be arranged so that part of the measuring tube 420 the front bumper reinforcement 424 is exposed. The first and second measuring tube sensors 440 and 441 can also be in the recess in the back 443 of the energy absorber 418 be arranged. A collision with the front bumper skirt 404 compresses the energy absorber 418 and the measuring tube 420 against the front bumper reinforcement 424 , Therefore, takes an inner volume of the measuring tube 420 off and the pressure inside the measuring tube 420 rises when a collision occurs.

The pressure increase may vary depending on what the front bumper skirt 404 collide, vary. For example, a collision with a pedestrian can cause a pressure increase of at least 25 millibars. However, a collision with a vehicle or other object type can lead to a greater increase in pressure.

The processes, methods, or algorithms disclosed herein may be provided / implemented by a processing device, controller, or computer that may include any existing programmable electronic control device or dedicated electronic control device. Likewise, the processes, methods, or algorithms may be stored as data or executable instructions by a controller or computer in a variety of ways, including without limitation, persistent storage on non-writable storage media, such as a ROM, and as changeable information on writable storage media, such as floppy disks, Magnetic tapes, CDs, RAM and other magnetic and optical media. The processes, methods or algorithms can also be implemented in a software-executable object. Alternatively, the processes, methods, or algorithms may be wholly or partially embodied with suitable hardware components, such as application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), state machines, controllers or other hardware components or devices, or a combination of hardware, software, and firmware components ,

One or more embodiments have been described above with reference to the drawings. The embodiments described above should be considered only in a descriptive sense and not serve the purpose of limitation. In addition, the exemplary embodiments may be modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventive concept, which is defined in the following claims.

Claims (10)

Meter tube diagnostic device comprising: a measuring tube comprising a conductive material; a sensor configured to transmit an electrical signal to a first portion of the meter tube and to receive the transmitted signal at a second portion of the meter tube; and a controller configured to determine a difference between the transmitted electrical signal and the received signal and to diagnose a condition of the measuring tube based on the determined difference. The device after Claim 1 , further comprising: an energy absorber disposed between a front bumper cover and a front bumper reinforcement, wherein the meter tube is disposed between the energy absorber and the front bumper reinforcement. Device after Claim 1 wherein the sensor comprises a first sensor connected to the first part of the measuring tube and a second sensor connected to the second part of the measuring tube. Device after Claim 3 wherein the first sensor includes a first conductive protrusion contacting the first portion of the measuring tube, and the second sensor may include a second conductive protrusion contacting the second portion of the measuring tube. Device after Claim 4 wherein the first part of the measuring tube comprises a first end of the measuring tube and the second part of the measuring tube comprises a second end of the measuring tube. Device after Claim 1 wherein the sensor comprises a first conductive protrusion contacting the first part of the measuring tube and a second conductive protrusion contacting the second part of the measuring tube. Device after Claim 1 wherein the measuring tube further comprises a conductive silicon or a conductive ink printed silicone tube. Device after Claim 1 wherein the electrical signal comprises a diagnostic pulse, a half sine or square wave waveform generated at a particular interval, or a series of square pulses. Device after Claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to determine a difference in at least one of a voltage, a current, and a frequency of the transmitted electrical signal and the received signal. Device after Claim 1 wherein the sensor is configured to detect a pressure change in the meter tube, wherein the controller is configured to control the deployment of an air bag based on a pressure change sensed by the sensor.

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